Cannot log in on one character only after crash (POL-3001)

[Xianra]

Thank you for the response! I was able to resolve the issue and finally access the "blacked out" zone by accessing my router settings, manually configuring for the mentioned TCP/UDP ports, resetting the router and clearing the DNS cache. I did have an R0 episode tonight but apparently a lot of others did at the same time as well, so I expect that was something server-wide.

I would encourage people with the same issue to configure your routers (mine is made by Netgear, so I only know how to do it for that specifically). Although I would agree something with the version update affected the settings, as I've never had this issue before, the port configuration was the key for me. Hopefully I'll stay DC free....

[AzieltheLiar]

I wonder if it's an effort to block out gilsellers/botters common methods that was slipped in this last update that is causing this error. I need to wait for the guy with admin privileges to get home, so i can try the router reconfig, but if it works, it would explain how our default settings have become unusable... maybe. I hope it works. This got me right after my billing cycle, and i just restarted...

[SE_James]

AzieltheLiar,

An incorrectly configured router can be a cause (if not the cause) behind the connection issues that you and many others have been experiencing as of late. As we’ve indicated previously, the FINAL FANTASY XI software on your machine requires access across a large range of ports. This is because of how servers for a MMO are set up.

When you are connecting to a world server, you are not connecting to one single machine hosting the data for that server, but one out of a number of servers in a farm. Different zones on a world will be hosted on different servers within the farm for that world, and that connection can use any number of ports in the range that FINAL FANTASY XI needs access to.

So when you experience a problem where you can connect to the world server with Character B, but Character A on that same server receives timeout errors, that means that Character A’s connection is being blocked by an improperly configured router, whereas Character B’s connection is getting through.

We hope this explanation helps you understand the situation, and why we provide the resolution that we do.

[AzieltheLiar]

Thanks James. Does give me some sort of prospective. Trying to get this router working as we speak, but if i can't resolve the issue, I'm going to have to cancel my subscription. Don't have the money to keep sending without any product usage. Good luck everyone. If i get it working for my Xbox, I'll let ya know what i did. /sigh

[MerrickMayfair]

AzieltheLiar,

If the port additions don't work, I found that doing a factory reset on the router does the trick. Why? I dunno, but it worked for me today.

[Iresire]

I finally found a solution to my problem. Comcast recently installed a new modem in my house. When the modem is initially set up, it reads the MAC address off the NIC. Apparently when the modem was "hooked up" to the MAC address on my computer, Bubu would not load for any reason. When it is "hooked up" to the MAC address on my wife's computer, it started working just fine.

I don't understand why that matters or why it works, but I'm just glad it is working for me now.

[Bobar]

Still not having any luck. I'm on Phoenix. If I bypass my router, I don't get the error. I reset my router again, upgraded to the lastest firmware for my router (Linksys WRT54G Wireless Ver. 6). I've tried port forwarding (called Linksys support to ensure I'm setting things up correctly and I was). I tried port triggering. I've tried both with and without a static IP address. This is very frustrating. Linksys tech support said I've done everything I can try to do. Last resort, I ordered a new wireless router. If that doesn't work... ><

For the record, here's the port forwarding steps specifically for FFXI and the Linksys WRT54G router - http://portforward.com/english/route...sy_XI_-_PC.htm

Maybe it will help someone else having this issue (they have specifics on many routers)... too bad it's not helping me.

PS - Thanks to all who've posted, especially SE_James! It's nice to have someone from SE on here to assist!

[Razuka]

SE_James
Did all 3 steps, still can't get out of downloading data screen. Please help.

[Aquilees]

This has happened to me a few times now. I think it's a server congestion problem. I'm on the Pheonix server now and since the move this has been a common problem. First time i tried zoning to port jueno and had this problem, after several attempts it let me back in. But there was some 800 people in that zone at the time. Second time I got it trying to zone from port bastok to tahrongi canyon, and some 3500 hundred people on the server at the time. Seems like server congestion to me.

*Edit* Forgot to say, this is really annoying stuff SE.

[Bobar]

I'm inclined to agree that on Phoenix this may be due to server congestion. Here's some new things I experienced tonight:

1) Reconnected my 10 year old Linksys wired router. Got on both FFXI accounts at once (PC and an Xbox 360) with no trouble at all. All characters loaded nice and fast even in Jeuno. I thought for sure my other router was to blame.
2) After about an hour, both connections (PC and 360) dropped.
3) Called my local ISP tech support, everything was fine, internet connection stable.
4) Got back on both PC and 360, running fine.
5) Changed to a mule on PC, then back to main character - as of 7 AM EST (peak JP time) cannot log back on any characters in Jeuno. But other acct has character in Jeuno and it's still up. /sea all Port Jeuno 738 people ouch!

So I could play for about 3 hours total w/ both account in and out of Jeuno with around 600 people in PJ and 2300 total on Phoenix. No port forwarding done on my router either. Everything was fine, but now w/ 3483 on Phoenix and 743 in PJ, I can't log any new characters on in Jeuno. I no longer believe this is a Port Forwarding issue since the character on my alt acct is zoning in and out of Jeuno zones just fine, but ever since changing characters on my main, no characters in Jeuno can log back in.

Probably not a quick fix here, but I think the only way to clear people gathering in Port Jeuno would be a server wide chat mode so people can /shout for "(Party) (Do you need it?)" and people can see it anytime they have that server wide chatmode open and are looking for something to do in a pickup group. Of course, they would need to be able to turn that chatmode off as well. Would this idea be feasible? It may ease congestion. On the downside, it may increase traffic on the server with communication from players going server wide.

Watching /shout in PJ right now of people saying "keep getting dc'd in Jeuno, anyone else having trouble?"